Afleveringen
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Roman Arutyunov is the Co-founder and SVP of Products at Xage Security, a Series B startup focused on protecting critical infrastructure—including energy systems—from cyber threats. Xage is backed by investors like Chevron Technology Ventures, Aramco, Piva Capital, Valor Equity Partners, and Overture.
Cybersecurity is a growing concern as our energy systems become more distributed, electrified, and digitally connected. We spoke with Roman about the vulnerabilities in today’s infrastructure, the motivations behind cyberattacks, and how the rise of AI is changing the cybersecurity landscape.
In this episode, we cover:
[2:11] Introduction to Xage Security[3:12] Cybersecurity 101: Ransomware, nation-state threats, and attacker motivations[7:10] Operational tech (OT) vs. information tech (IT)[13:29] Xage’s Zero Trust security approach[15:45] Customer segments and differing security challenges[20:47] Navigating regulations vs. fast deployment timelines[23:40] How AI is shaping both threats and defenses[28:00] When multifactor authentication becomes a vulnerability[31:59] Real-world cyberattacks on energy systems[34:10] Xage’s funding history and growth trajectoryEpisode recorded on Feb 20, 2025 (Published on Mar 26, 2025)
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Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant
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Mike Schroepfer is Partner at Gigascale, a venture firm he founded and self-funded to back startups building venture-scale businesses with the potential for outsized climate impact. Previously, Mike served as CTO at Meta (Facebook’s parent company) from 2013 to 2022, having originally joined in 2008 as VP of Engineering.
In this episode, Mike and Cody discuss his career journey, key lessons learned, and their shared counterpoint to the often-repeated myth that "America doesn’t build hard things." They also dive into AI, energy’s role in its advancement, and the work Mike and his team are doing at Gigascale.
Mike has been a longtime supporter of MCJ, and we’re honored to count him among our investors. It’s inspiring to see a technologist of his caliber not only invest in climate solutions but also roll up his sleeves to help founders tackle hard problems and build the future.
In this episode, we cover:
[2:08] Mike’s early career working on video software [5:28] Fundraising challenges and lessons from the dot-com crash [10:12] Working at Sun, Mozilla, and joining Facebook in 2008[13:16] Risks and opportunities of early Facebook[15:40] Managing large engineering teams and the value of humility[18:30] The era of building hard things in the U.S.[21:25] AI and energy innovation: compute, chips, and power[27:49] How scale brings down cost curve and modularized technology [32:01] How he thinks about software-based opportunities [37:40] Shrep’s pivot to climate tech after Meta[41:04] The talent interest evolution in climate [43:33] Gigascale’s investment thesis[49:49] Gigascale’s approach to identifying sectors[51:37] Storytelling and marketing in climate tech[54:10] Gigascales talent efforts for its portfolioEpisode recorded on Mar 4, 2025 (Published on Mar 20, 2025)
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Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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James McWalter is the CEO and co-founder of Paces, an AI-powered software platform that helps clean energy project developers identify and evaluate the best sites for new projects. Paces streamlines the process by integrating interconnection, environmental, zoning, and legal data on land parcels—key factors developers must navigate when selecting viable locations. MCJ is proud to be an investor in Paces through our venture funds.
In renewable project development, one of the biggest challenges is quickly pinpointing sites with the highest likelihood of reaching operation efficiently. As James explains, this process depends on multiple factors: the capacity of the local grid, whether upgrades are needed to connect a project, the feasibility of permitting, and more. And as we discuss, the recent AI-driven data center boom is intensifying the urgency and complexity of each of these considerations.
Paces’ platform is being used by both clean energy developers and data center developers who need to get projects built as quickly, cost-effectively, and cleanly as possible. A few months ago, Paces co-authored a white paper with Scale Microgrids and Stripe Climate titled Fast, Scalable, Clean, and Cheap Enough: How Off-Grid Solar Microgrids Can Power the AI Race—a report that sparked a lot of conversation. In it, they explore whether the forecasted energy demands of AI can be met with off-grid, behind-the-meter projects.
Oh, and James also hosts his own podcast, Build Repeat, where he interviews project developers and others actively building and deploying clean energy solutions.
With all that said, James and I dive into his background, the origins of Paces, and much more in this episode.
In this episode, we cover:
[2:48] Introduction to Paces and James’ background[6:26] The origin story of Paces and how James met his co-founder, Charles[9:24] Key challenges faced by clean energy project developers[11:45] Permitting bottlenecks and delays[14:57] The growing challenge of decreasing grid capacity[16:01] How Paces’ software addresses site selection challenges[19:11] The role of NIMBY opposition in the permitting process[22:42] How developers leverage Paces' platform[24:51] Paces’ customer segmentation and user types[28:08] How Paces supports data center development[30:16] Insights from Paces’ white paper on off-grid solutions for AI-driven data centers (available at offgridai.us)[38:49] The feasibility of achieving 100% renewable energy for data centers[46:10] Paces’ fundraising to date and the types of partners they’re looking forEpisode recorded on Feb 19, 2025 (Published on March 6, 2025)
Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected].
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Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant
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Cathy Zoi is a clean energy veteran with a career spanning leadership roles across government, industry, and investment. Most recently, she served as CEO of EVgo from 2017 to 2023, taking the company public in 2020. EVgo is now one of the largest EV charging networks in the United States.
Today, Cathy is deeply engaged in the energy and climate space. She serves on the board of directors for Con Edison, the major investor-owned utility serving the New York City metro area. She’s also on the board of Apax, a British investment firm, and sits on the investment advisory committee for EQT, a Swedish global investment organization that recently acquired Scale Microgrids. Additionally, she’s a board member at SPAN, an MCJ portfolio company, and at Soil Organic.
Cathy’s career started at the Environmental Protection Agency, followed by roles in the White House during the Clinton-Gore administration and the Department of Energy under Obama. She’s worked at Silver Lake, founded a division of SunEdison focused on emerging markets, and helped lay the groundwork for Odyssey Energy Solutions, another MCJ portfolio company. Throughout our conversation, we explore her fascinating career journey, the lessons she’s learned along the way, and her perspective on the future of clean energy.
In this episode, we cover:
[3:01] Cathy’s early career at the EPA and the launch of Energy Star[9:15] Commercializing GHG reducers in Australia[11:59] Working with Al Gore’s Alliance for Climate Protection[14:42] Serving as acting undersecretary in the Obama administration[18:06] Advisory roles on investment platforms[23:22] Experience at SunEdison and founding Odyssey Energy[27:29] Financial discipline and capital deployment at EVgo[32:06] The future of the EV charging business[36:14] Evolution of pricing models[39:18] Board work at Con Ed and risk management[43:19] What excites her most, including beneficial electrificationEpisode recorded on Feb 25, 2025 (Published on March 13, 2025)
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Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant
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Dan Preston is the co-founder and CEO of Stand, a brand-new startup property insurer providing homeowners insurance for climate-exposed properties. They’re launching with a go-to-market focus on higher-end properties in California—homes that are otherwise unable to obtain affordable rates or any coverage at all due to wildfire risk.
Stand claims that their differentiation, as Dan will explain in depth, comes from how they assess fire risk at the individual property level and help homeowners take proactive steps to mitigate those risks as part of the underwriting process.
Dan is a seasoned entrepreneur with a win under his belt in InsurTech. He was previously the CEO of Metromile, which went public on the NASDAQ in 2020 via a SPAC merger and was later acquired by NextGen insurance company Lemonade in 2022.
Stand recently raised a $30 million Series A, co-led by Inspired Capital and Lowercarbon, and came out of stealth at the end of 2024 to begin underwriting properties.
Insurance risk is being priced and managed in ways that no longer match today’s realities, and we loved hearing from Dan about how Stand is tackling the challenge.
In this episode, we cover:
[3:49] Dan’s background in computer science and machine learning[7:00] The catalyst for starting Stand[9:22] How insurance companies typically evaluate risk[11:05] Challenges in measuring wildfire risk[17:32] Managing fire-prone communities and the importance of collective resilience[20:53] The role of private firefighters in insurance[22:08] Stand’s mission and focus on climate-exposed properties[26:53] Progress since launch and early traction[27:39] Stand’s product, technology, and risk modeling approach[33:18] Why legacy insurers have struggled to adapt to wildfire risk[38:35] What "perils" mean in insurance and why they matter[41:47] Stand’s $30M Series A funding and future plansEpisode recorded on Feb 11, 2025 (Published on Feb 20, 2025)
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Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant
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Marc Mezvinsky is a partner at TPG Rise Climate. TPG Rise Climate is among the largest pools of capital ever raised with a dedicated focus on climate tech. They announced a debut fund in 2021 at over $7 billion—and another very large fund currently in the works. Rise Climate is part of the broader TPG Rise platform, the impact arm of the publicly traded private equity firm TPG, which manages more than $220 billion in assets.
Marc and I discuss his background and career path in finance across various asset classes, including private equity, venture capital at Social Capital, investment banking at Goldman Sachs, and hedge fund management, in addition to his work in climate tech.
Of note, Marc has a fascinating personal history as the son of two former U.S. House Representatives and as the son-in-law of former U.S. President Bill Clinton and former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton—he is married to Chelsea Clinton.
We also discuss how Marc approaches capital deployment at TPG Rise Climate, how he thinks about impact in his work, and how TPG Rise Climate evaluates impact relative to market-rate returns.
In this episode, we cover:
[3:04] An overview of TPG Rise Climate[8:34] The fund’s investment approach[11:12] TPC Rise Climate’s impact mandate[16:16] Marc’s background and path into finance[26:16] His exposure to policymaking and its impact on his work[38:10] Areas Marc and TPG Rise are exploring[44:07] Headwinds and tailwinds on Marc’s radarEpisode recorded on Jan 23, 2025 (Published on Feb 27, 2025)
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Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant
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Hudson Gilmer is the co-founder and CEO of LineVision.
LineVision is a Series C-stage startup helping utilities monitor and increase the capacity of the vast network of transmission lines that serve as the vascular system of the U.S. electric grid. The U.S. transmission grid spans 600,000 to 700,000 circuit miles of high-voltage lines, connecting energy generation with consumption and delivering power across the country. This infrastructure typically lasts for decades, yet much of it was built before the advent of sophisticated software-based monitoring or persistent connectivity.
LineVision provides a non-contact sensor and software system that detects issues with transmission lines and enables grid operators to safely increase their capacity—critical in an increasingly electrified world where grid constraints limit power delivery and building new transmission lines is a slow, multi-year process.
We explore all this and more in our conversation with Hudson.
In this episode, we cover:
[2:06] An overview of transmission as one of the backbones of infrastructure in the US[7:00] LineVision’s focus on high-voltage, long distance lines [8:53] Hudon’s background and LineVision’s origin story[12:41] LineVision’s customers and who they work with[14:33] An overview of LineVision’s product [19:31] How seasonality plays into transmission capacity [22:53] The lifespan of typical transmission lines [25:10] The future of transmission line monitoring [28:11] LineVision’s funding to date [31:05] How LineVision’s business could be applied in the future[33:30] How monitoring facilitated grid security[35:42] LineVision’s new customersEpisode recorded on Jan 30, 2025 (Published on Feb 13, 2025)
Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected].
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Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant
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John Rappaport is the Chief Investment Officer at Keyframe Capital, a special situations fund manager. They help management teams solve complex asset and corporate financing requirements. In finance speak, this is often referred to as structured capital—the process of separating a company's capital structure into layers, enabling each layer to be fit for an investor seeking that specific risk-return profile.
As John shares, structured capital can often be a good fit for companies in the energy transition, as those in renewable energy and adjacent categories often have high upfront capital costs and a relatively low cost of ongoing production.
John has spent much of his career in financial roles within the energy and transportation sectors. Prior to founding Keyframe in 2020, he joined Cyrus Capital Partners in 2008, and before that, he worked for Sankaty Advisors, a division of Bain Capital. He has lectured on structured capital and economics at Yale University and sits on the boards of many companies in the energy transition space, including Wonder Capital, Utility Data, and Sealed, among others.
So, let's dive into the wonky but important world of structured capital.
In this episode, we cover:
[1:57] Overview of Keyframe Capital[2:52] The origin of Keyframe and a story about Terawatt Infrastructure[11:25] Understanding structured capital[17:01] Examples of structured capital: Infrastructure as a service[21:10] Keyframe’s thesis-driven approach[25:56] The data center financing challenge[31:02] When and how founders should engage with structured capital providers[35:48] Keyframe’s current focus areasEpisode recorded on Jan 21, 2025 (Published on Feb 6, 2025)
Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected].
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Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant
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Halen Mattison and Luke Neise are co-founders at General Galactic.
General Galactic is a seed-stage e-fuels startup out of El Segundo in the Los Angeles area that converts captured CO₂ into synthetic fuels, starting with natural gas. They claim that their end product is a carbon-neutral drop-in replacement for natural gas that can run in all of today's vast gas infrastructure. In their view, any company or country can in theory become a gas producer.
The two founders met at Stanford and went on to early careers in aerospace, Halen at SpaceX and Luke at Varda Space Industries. As they'll share, the vision for General Galactic was ultimately inspired by technologies that are used in space today, which they felt could help solve the energy transition here on Earth.
In this episode, we cover:
[1:43] The origin of the name General Galactic (GG)[3:07] Halen and Luke’s backgrounds[7:00] An overview of GG[8:14] How GG’s technology leverages existing infrastructure[14:15] GG and its connection to SAF[16:55] How GG chose to focus on natural gas[19:18] Differences between CNG and RNG[22:44] An overview of LNG[26:06] The Jones Act and its impact on fuel transportation[28:14] GG’s drop-in replacement and its economic implications[31:02] The footprint of GG’s “Genesis modules”[34:49] The importance of location for GG’s hardware[38:05] Addressing methane emissions concerns[40:19] GG’s technology readiness and commercialization pathways[42:11] GG’s business model and go-to-market strategy[45:12] GG’s financing to date[49:20] Who GG wants to connect withAdditional Resources:
Our World in Data - Energy MixEstimates of Methane Emissions by Segment in the United States*The claims made in this episode are based on current research and theoretical models. Real-world impact will depend on factors like scalability, infrastructure readiness, and policy support. We encourage listeners to stay curious, explore further resources, and engage in the evolving conversation around these solutions.
Episode recorded on Nov 7, 2024 (Published on Jan 30, 2025)
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Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant
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Paul Lambert is the Co-founder and CEO of Quilt, a company designing smart ductless heat pumps for residential heating and cooling with intelligent room-by-room controls. Quilt was founded in 2022 and launched in the San Francisco Bay Area in spring 2024. Since then, they have achieved hundreds of deployments and are preparing to expand to their next market in Southern California. Earlier this year, they announced a $33 million Series A financing round co-led by Energy Impact Partners and Galvanize Climate Solutions, following a $9 million seed round in 2023 co-led by Lowercarbon Capital and Gradient Ventures. MCJ is proud to have invested in both rounds through our venture funds.
Before founding Quilt, Paul led sustainability efforts at Area 120, Google’s in-house incubator for product ideas developed during employees’ 20% time. He previously held product roles at Google and Twitter and began his career by founding, running, and exiting a startup called LearnDot.
In this conversation, we wanted to understand Paul’s product mindset—how Quilt works, the assumptions he’s validated along the way, and how he’s approached the challenges of building the business.
In this episode, we cover:
[2:01] The origin of the name Quilt[3:32] An overview of Quilt’s product stack[5:37] Quilt’s installation process[8:24] An overview of mini splits[10:56] How Paul and his co-founder decided on ductless mini splits[17:09] Paul’s path from design spec to prototype[18:47] The company’s progress to date[21:38] Consumer sentiment about heat pumps[23:51] Seasonal changes that drive consumers to purchase Quilt[27:16] Paul’s biggest learnings in building the company[32:16] Design considerations in Quilt’s product[34:59] Workforce development and other inertia challenges[40:51] What’s next for Quilt[45:52] Where Quilt is hiring, plus its newly launched merch storeEpisode recorded on Dec 17, 2024 (Published on Jan 23, 2025)
*Due to the recent fires, Quilt will now launch in Los Angeles in the Spring of 2025.
Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected].
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Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant
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Sharon Schneider is the Founder of Integrated Capital Strategies, a consulting firm that helps founders and family offices drive positive social change. Her firm specializes in setting up or realigning family offices to better align with the values and evolving priorities of individuals seeking a more integrated approach to life.
We invited Sharon on the show after being inspired by one of her posts, where she highlighted a growing trend: younger generations of high-net-worth families are rethinking their relationship with family wealth, especially in light of climate change.
In this conversation, we explored the distinctions between impact capital, aligned capital, and catalytic capital, and how family office strategies can incorporate these concepts. We also discussed key considerations for entrepreneurs and fund managers when engaging with family offices, how family offices can structure loan guarantees to address the first-of-a-kind project finance gap—and much more.
In this episode, we cover:
[2:13] Sharon’s journey to founding Integrated Capital Strategies[8:42] Her perspective on catalytic capital[12:27] Feedback from family offices: privacy and urgency[16:14] Fiduciary duties of family offices[19:25] How Sharon collaborates with family offices[23:30] Tips for high-net-worth individuals[27:23] Guidance for founders approaching investors[28:53] Advice for GPs raising capital[32:55] Underutilized tools in catalytic capital[37:40] More advice for founders seeking funding[41:57] The role of corporate strategics in startups[44:11] Sharon’s outlook on the future of family office investmentsEpisode recorded on Dec 19, 2024 (Published on Jan 20, 2025)
Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected].
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Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant
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Eliot Brooks is the CEO and co-founder of Cocoon.
Cocoon is driving the industrial circular economy, starting with a process that helps the steel industry continue supplying a critical feedstock for cement production. This feedstock is increasingly at risk as steelmaking transitions from coal-based blast furnaces to lower-emission electric arc furnaces.
Cocoon was founded on the realization that as industries decarbonize, certain process changes disrupt circular supply chains. The connection between the slag byproduct of steelmaking and the demands of cement production is their starting focus. Earlier this year, Cocoon announced a $5.4 million pre-seed round led by Wireframe, Gigascale, SOSV, and Celsius Industries.
In this episode, we cover:
[1:33] Introduction to Cocoon[3:13] The challenge steel decarbonization poses for the cement industry[9:56] Cocoon's process for transforming steel slag into a cementitious material[10:51] Eliot’s background and journey to working on this technology[15:46] Cocoon's business model and go-to-market strategy[19:43] Decarbonization pathways for steel and the role of electric arc furnaces[21:10] Cocoon's current technology readiness and near-term deployment plans[22:05] Building industrial expertise at Cocoon[25:07] Comparing the US and Europe as initial target markets[27:57] Cocoon's recent $5.4 million pre-seed funding round[30:00] Eliot’s perspective on bringing expertise from other industries to address challenges in steelmakingEpisode recorded on Nov 20, 2024 (Published on Jan 16, 2025)
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Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant
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Adrian Deveny, former Director of Energy and Environmental Policy for U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, was a key architect of the Biden-era climate policy agenda, including the landmark Inflation Reduction Act. In this conversation, we explore Adrian's perspective on what to expect from Washington, D.C., in the years ahead, as the federal government transitions to Republican control of the executive branch and both chambers of Congress.
We discuss the likely fate of the climate and clean energy provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act over the next couple of years and whether there are viable pathways for new clean energy policy in the near term. Given the ambitious policies rolled out in recent years, Adrian also shares insights on the "unfinished business" he sees as critical. Spoiler alert: he believes we need to more than double our policy efforts to meet U.S. emissions targets.
In this episode, we cover:
[3:36] Adrian’s background and journey in the Senate[8:26] Republican trifecta’s impact on climate policy[11:47] Regulatory challenges, including Supreme Court rulings[17:48] Challenges in EPA funding and appropriations[19:53] Defending clean energy tax credits under the IRA[24:08] IRA’s impact on manufacturing and the EV supply chain[31:48] Bipartisan opportunities in geothermal, nuclear, and defense projects[45:28] Debates on permitting reform for energy projects[52:00] Future clean energy growth and market forces[55:12] Adrian’s focus on advancing federal climate policyRecommended listening:
Crafting Landmark Climate Legislation Russel Kenneth DeGraffEpisode recorded on Nov 20, 2024 (Published on Jan 13, 2025)
Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected].
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Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant
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Kathryn Bakos is the Managing Director of Finance and Resilience at the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation, an applied research center within the faculty of Environment at the University of Waterloo in Canada.
Our conversation today is all about the inevitable impacts of climate change, including floods, wildfires, and heat waves in particular, as these phenomena are Kathryn's main focus. We talk about the increasing severity of each of these, the preventative efforts that individuals and communities can each take to avoid their worst effects and how risk and insurance industries are navigating these perils. And lastly, we have a conversation about why adaptation measures have seemingly lagged behind decarbonization efforts in the public consciousness about climate change.
In this episode, we cover:
[0:00] Overview of the Intact Centre[1:30] Canada’s climate vulnerability[2:44] Kathryn’s career path[4:00] Major risks: flooding, wildfires, heat waves[9:59] Responses to flooding: individuals, communities, industries[16:55] Updating flood maps and using AI[26:07] Wildfire risks: actions for homes and communities[34:53] Wildfire insurance and resilience challenges[37:42] Balancing adaptation and mitigation[41:28] Political will for adaptation measures[45:50] Cost-effectiveness of adaptation[46:41] Don River and Waterpark Project[48:34] Innovation in resilience technologies[51:58] Heat risks and urban solutions[58:34] Final reflections on resilience effortsResources from Intact:
Three Steps to Cost-Effective Home Flood ProtectionThree Steps to a Cost-Effective FireSmart™ HomeThree Features of a Wildfire-Ready CommunityThree Steps to Cost-Effective Apartment and Condo Heat ProtectionThree Steps to Cost-Effective Home Heat ProtectionEpisode recorded on Dec 2, 2024 (Published on Jan 6, 2025)
Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected].
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Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant
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Seyed Madaeni is the co-founder and CEO of Verse. Verse develops software that helps organizations understand, plan, and manage clean energy. Their platform simplifies the complex clean energy procurement process, enabling companies to meet their emissions goals in the most economical way possible.
MCJ is proud to be a repeat investor in Verse through our venture capital funds, including participation in their recent Series A round alongside GV and Coatue. To us, Verse embodies the inevitable shift where large companies must integrate clean energy management as a core business capability.
Hyperscalers have led this trend, driven by their insatiable need for electricity to power data centers—a demand that’s only growing with AI. We believe this focus on clean energy will expand across major corporations, much like the widespread adoption of IT and cloud technologies over the past two decades. But enough from us—let’s hear directly from Seyed about what he’s building with Verse.
In this episode, we cover:
[1:43] Overview of Verse’s mission and focus[2:05] How Seyed founded Verse[4:54] Lessons from Seyed’s time at Fluence[6:02] Insights into the buyer side of the market[10:03] Rising demand on the U.S. energy grid[13:02] Breakdown of Verse’s customer base[17:44] Challenges corporate buyers face with energy and emissions[19:14] Overview of virtual PPAs and additionality[25:14] How Verse helps buyers make energy decisions[27:28] Importance of data in pricing and forecasting[30:40] 24/7 carbon-free energy vs. carbon matching[35:00] The role of batteries in increasing emissions[38:56] How Verse is expanding its offerings[41:15] Understanding Verse’s approach[44:00] Verse’s funding history and goalsEpisode recorded on Oct 17, 2024 (Published on Jan 2, 2025)
Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected].
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Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant
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Maria Robinson, outgoing Director of the Grid Deployment Office at the U.S. Department of Energy, joins us to share insights from her impactful tenure. Since stepping into the role in 2022, Maria has overseen $22 billion in federal funding to drive the development of new and upgraded electric infrastructure nationwide.
Recorded in person at the recent Deploy conference in Washington, DC, hosted by the DOE, Maria and Cody discuss her background, the mission of the Grid Deployment Office, and the initiatives she’s championed. We also dive into the complexities of the U.S. electric grid, including transmission, interconnect queues, permitting reform, and enhancing grid resilience amidst extreme weather and climate challenges.
In this episode, we cover:
[4:57] Maria’s background and work with Rep. Jay Inslee[7:33] The complexity of the U.S. electric grid[10:19] Funding sources for transmission projects[11:54] Renewables’ impact on grid design[15:13] The role of NEPA in grid projects[22:37] Powering data centers and grid distribution[25:37] Interconnect queue backlogs[27:08] The benefits of reconductoring[28:15] Grid resiliency and local utilities[33:34] Maria’s vision for the next administration[35:09] Cybersecurity challenges for the grid[36:32] Federal permitting reform for transmissionEpisode recorded on Dec 5, 2024 (Published on Dec 19, 2024)
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Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant
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Arvin Ganesan is the CEO of Fourth Power, which is developing a flexible-duration thermal energy system designed to meet the needs of an electrical grid increasingly powered by renewables. Their system heats liquid tin to extremely high temperatures, circulates it through carbon blocks for heat storage, and converts that heat back to electricity on demand via thermal photovoltaics. The technology aims to address both short-duration energy storage (5–10 hours) and long-duration needs (100 hours or more), with the ability to discharge power within seconds.
At the end of last year, Fourth Power raised a Series A led by DCVC, with participation from Breakthrough Energy Ventures. Arvin’s fascinating career includes time in the U.S. Senate as a senior policy advisor to the late Senator Frank Lautenberg, over five years at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and nearly six years at Apple as the head of global energy and environmental policy.
In this episode, we explore Arvin's career path, his decision to join Fourth Power, and why the company’s work matters for the future of energy storage.
In this episode, we cover:
[1:49] Arvin's career journey: From the EPA to Apple and beyond[8:13] Why Arvin chose to become CEO of Fourth Power[10:29] Focusing on electricity storage over industrial heat[12:06] Fourth Power’s thermal energy storage system explained[17:11] How Fourth Power uses photovoltaics for efficient energy conversion[20:36] Trade-offs between Fourth Power's technology and lithium-ion batteries[25:03] Co-location strategies and powering renewable energy[28:21] Collaborating with utilities to meet grid demands[31:09] Fourth Power’s milestones and current progress[32:57] Arvin’s transition to a CEO role and what he’s learning[34:59] Market optimism and the potential impact of Fourth Power’s solutionRecommended Listening:
Onshoring Clean Energy with Giulia Siccardo, MESCEpisode recorded on Aug 20, 2024 (Published on Dec 12, 2024)
Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected].
Connect with MCJ:
Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant
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Hannah Bebbington is the Head of Deployment at Frontier, an advanced market commitment created in 2022, that aims to purchase $1 billion or more of permanent carbon removal by 2030.
Founded by Stripe, Alphabet, Shopify, Meta, and McKinsey, Frontier has quickly become a leading force in the carbon removal space. Its portfolio includes a "who’s who" of innovators pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in carbon removal—many of whom have been guests on this show.
Cody catches up with Hannah to explore how Frontier’s program is structured, what they’ve learned so far, and her perspective on the state of carbon removal today.
In this episode, we cover:
[2:03] What is Frontier? An intro to its $1B commitment to carbon removal[7:00] The scale of the carbon removal challenge and future funding needs[10:42] Gaps in the industry: demand, investment, and measurement[13:21] Hannah’s background and role as Head of Deployment[16:10] Frontier’s advanced market commitment model explained[18:05] How Frontier supports early-stage companies through pre-purchases[21:32] Tips for startups applying to Frontier’s programs[27:19] Frontier’s offtake track for scaling larger projects[30:16] The importance of measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV)[35:05] Frontier’s criteria for funding: scale, cost, and permanence[42:14] Microsoft’s role as a leader in carbon removal[47:24] Key terms in Frontier’s offtake agreements[55:08] The impact of the data center boom on carbon removal[57:01] Carbon removal’s bipartisan support and policy outlookRecommended Listening:
MCJ Startup Series: Charm IndustrialPermanent Geologic Carbon Storage with Vaulted DeepEnhanced Rock Weathering with Lithos CarbonCarbon Removal and Climate Policy with Heirloom and Senator Scott WienerEpisode recorded on Nov 22, 2024 (Published on Dec 9, 2024)
Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected].
Connect with MCJ:
Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant
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Dr. Naomi Boness is the managing director of the Natural Gas Initiative and co-managing director of the Hydrogen Initiative at Stanford University. With a Ph.D. in Geophysics from Stanford and over 13 years in technical and management roles at Chevron, Dr. Boness combines deep scientific knowledge with real-world experience in energy operations.
In this episode, we dive into the molecule side of energy, focusing on the evolving roles of natural gas and hydrogen in a decarbonizing world. Topics range from geopolitics and energy security to emissions challenges and the future of these key resources in the energy mix.
In this episode, we cover:
[1:38] Dr. Boness' work and focus at Stanford [5:10] Corporate involvement: utilities, investment firms, and oil majors[7:12] Natural gas in the global energy mix and its role as a coal alternative[9:09] Addressing the critical issue of methane leaks[11:42] Incentives for midstream players to participate [13:53] Dr. Boness' pov on the idea of halting oil and gas production entirely[16:04] Geopolitical dynamics of natural gas production and exportation[20:59] Breakdown of the global gas production mix[22:55] Effects of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on the European gas market[27:10] DPower vs. heat transition and natural gas' role[29:49] Vision for the future of natural gas in a renewable energy landscape[33:55] Challenges and trade-offs in transitioning from natural gas and investing in infrastructure[39:25] Potential role of hydrogen in decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors[43:38] Environmental impacts of hydrogen as a potential greenhouse gas[47:33] Policy and regulatory hurdles for clean hydrogen production[50:39] Issues surrounding the "45V rule" in the Inflation Reduction Act[54:21] Dr. Boness' top policy priorities and wish listEpisode recorded on Aug 14, 2024 (Published on Nov 21, 2024)
Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected].
Connect with MCJ:
Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant
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Jason Marks is the Co-founder and CEO at TELO. TELO is developing EV pickup trucks in the footprint of a Mini Cooper with a bed the size of a Toyota Tacoma and the power of a mainstream truck.
They're focused on urban use cases for pickup trucks, whether that be a weekend adventurer who lives in a city or an organization whose employees need trucks for work in urban environments but are fed up with navigating giant vehicles through traffic, parking, and underground lots.
We were eager to hear Jason’s perspective on why now is the right time to build an electric vehicle from the ground up, what makes TELO’s approach uniquely positioned for a significant market opportunity, and why existing truck manufacturers haven’t pursued this segment. Plus, we dive into the fascinating history of why today’s pickup trucks have become so massive in the first place.
MCJ is proud to support TELO as an investor through our venture capital fund, backing founders like Jason who are reshaping industries to be cleaner, more profitable, and more resilient.
In this episode, we cover:
[2:26] Jason's background in automotive[4:37] An overview of TELO and its purpose[6:13] How pickups have grown significantly larger over the past 15-20 years[11:15] The current EV truck market[12:47] Truck density in urban environments and challenges[15:51] TELO's approach to building EV an pickup[17:58] China's EV phenomenon and landscape[23:08] Current US EV market[24:51] TELO's unique approach to EV pickups[28:09] The company's battery chemistry[29:49] TELO's progress to date[32:05] Big milestones Jason and his team are working towards including homologation[35:59] TELO's go to market[38:20] Jason's vision for the future of his business[39:24] TELO's latest Seed Round led by Neo[41:08] Where TELO needs help[41:44] Biggest surprises in building a vehicle companyEpisode recorded on Oct 4, 2024 (Published on Nov 21, 2024)
Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected].
Connect with MCJ:
Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant
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